Vehicle-top.



A. H. STOKES.

VEHICLE TOP.

APPLICATION man APR. 12. m5.

Patented Oct. 31

A TTORNEY m: NOHR'S Pin-RS cc.v rnum urno wAsmm-rom u c ARTHUR H. STOKES, 013 DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

VEHICLE-TOP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 12, 1915. Serial No. 20,606.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, ARTHUR H. S'roKEs, citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, county of WVayne, State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Vehicle-Tops, and declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled'in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to vehicle tops and more particularly to a device for shaping or rounding the forward and rear ends of the top at the corners that a more desirable appearance may be given to the cover.

One object of my invention is to provide a device constructed of sheet metal with one or more of its marginal edges wrapped around the bows of the vehicle top.

Another object of the invention is to construct the device with elongated openings adjacent to its marginal edges exposing the wooden bow inclosed therein that the nails for securing the cover to the bow may be readily driven into the latter.

Another feature of the invention consists in providing a relatively short upwardly extending auxiliary bow inclosed within the slotted margin of the device, and secured to the main rear bow adjacent to its top, the nails employed to secure the cover to the bow being driven through the slotted margin of the device into the auxiliary bow along its upper edge that the nails may be out of the view of any one standing on a plane with the wheels of the vehicle.

Another feature of the invention is to provide a wooden strip adapted to be shaped into bow form by dividing the strip longitudinally at intervals, whereby it may readily conform to the shape given to the margin of the surrounding metal inclosing the strip.

Other advantages and improvements will hereafter appear.

In the drawings accompanying this specification: Figure 1, is side elevation of a vehicle top, attached to a fragment of a body showing in dotted lines the bows in closed position,-their outer ends being lodged within the forming device ready for the usual slip cover. Fig. 2, is a fragmentary plan view of the rear end of vehicle top with parts broken away indicating .the device in dotted lines beneath the cover.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing a modificat1on of the device in dotted lines. Fig. 3,. is a fragmentary plan view of the device shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 3 is a similar plan view of the modification indicated in Fig. 2. Fig. 4, is an elevation of the device with parts broken away and in section, showing the wood strip inclosed within the margin of the device and split a portion of its length that it may be more rapidly bent at the ends. Fig. 5, is a cross-sectional view through the device and the supporting bows.

Fig. 6, is .a fragmentary sectional view through the auxillary bow and the main rear bow to which it is secured, indicating the margin of the device wrapped around the auxiliary bow.

Referring now to the letters of reference Patented0ct.31,1916.

placed upon the drawings: A, denotes the body of a vehicle; B, a forwardly projecting bow hinged to the body; C, a rearwardly projecting bow pivoted to the bow B.

D, is a bow substantially parallel with the bow B.

E, indicates an arcuate member of shee metal, its upper margin inclosing a wooden strip F, bent at the ends and secured to the bow C, by anail or screw F.

The lower margin of the member E, may be secured to the bow if desired by nailing.

The ends 6 (see Fig. 5), of the device conform to the angle produced by the bow C, and the fixed auxiliary bow.F,as clearly indicated in Fig. 5 of the drawings. 7

E, is.a transverse screw or pin projecting through the end walls of the device into the bow C;-the end walls 6, thus serve as a stiffening brace for the bows.

E are elongated slots in the upper margin of the device through which nails G,

may pass into thewooden strip F, to secure the cover H, to the bow. In place of the elongated slots the metal may be cut-away at intervals as indicated E in Fig. 3 for cure the margin of the deviceto the bow.

The margin of the device may completely inclose the bow. and its edge 6, brought into abutting contact with the arcuate body of the device (see Fig. 5) and then spot welded at intervals throughout its length.

Having indicated the several parts by reference letters, it will be seen that the rear end cover may be molded over the member E, and its upper edge nailed to the'top of the auxiliary bow through the elongated openings in the margin of the device. The rear edge of the roof cover is also secured to the auxiliary bow, the edges of the roof and end covers being brought into abutting relation along the top,-the dividing line between the covers and the row of nails employed to secure the latter to the bow being out of view of anyone standing upon the ground. Thus the end cover presents a smooth unbroken appearance at the corner which is much in demand.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is 1. In a former for an automobile top, the combination with a cover, a swinging bow, a bow fixedly secured to the swinging bow adjacent to the outer end of the latter, and

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, 7

a device of sheet metal bent in convex form with one of its margins Wrapped around the secondnamed .bow with openings along its metal corner form having one of its margins wrapped around .the fixed bow said margin being recessed at spaced intervals along the top to expose the, upper face of the bow, wherebynails maybe driven into the b0 tosecure a cover thereto 7 v In testimony whereof, I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses; I r

' ARTHUR H. STOKES.

Witnesses:

SAMUEL E. THOMAS, I JOHN CoNsnuNn, Jr.

Washington, D. 03 l I 

